So.... Planning is underway for the next trip? Maybe there's a new face in your group this year? We used to get together as a group about this time and start plotting who would be responsible for what items on the trip. There were a few of those times when I started thinking.... oh boy.... "This isn't gonna be pretty Yacky".
What early signs do you guys pick up that start you thinking "it's going to be a great trip", or.... "we may not hit it off so well"? And if you see some potential clashes, what can you do at this part of the adventure to head them off?

Dang, thought it was a chemistry question!

We are picky about who we ask along on a trip.  For us, a canoe trip is like going to the moon:  Once on your way you're pretty much stuck...Any personality conflicts ought to be sussed out before the trip starts.

We tell friends stories of our trips, show pictures, wave our hands frantically, and they are usually interested until they find that it involves some effort.  That shortens the list dramatically.  Then, of the few who continue to show any interest we consult on who we'd like to come along.  Some folks would be a disaster in the woods (at least with us.)    Usually what stops them next is the availability of vacation time.  The final hurdle is "Do they snore? (or are they indifferent to others' snoring?)"

Stumpy's travails with his crew for the BWR come to mind on being ambushed with a contrary attitude in the midst of a trip.  For us, that would be an invitation to tie that person up and leave him on a rock.

The way I "weed them out" is to force them to read accounts of my trips (some of which are posted to the QJ "Campfire Stories" page).

If THAT doesn't scare'em off, I figure they might be worthy or, perhaps, nuts... which at least promises to contribute an amusement element into our trip's chemistry.

Frankly, others have used the same tactic to INCLUDE me in their plans.  Tripper's account of his long solo absolutely captivated my attention & led to our hooking up for a trip.  Likewise, I have another trip planned for July with QJ members whom I've never met.  I've read their trip reports, stories, & comments on the board.  Helps me get to feeling like I "already know them".

BTW, I've come up with a potential solution to the "snoring factor", at least as it pertains to me.  This Xmas, I am somewhat confident of finding under my tree a new, fancy "hammock tent".  This will effectively allow me to deploy myself WELL out in the woods.  Heck, I might even be serving as our party's "first line of defense" with respect to scaring bears & other unwelcome critters away.

Almost as good as bagpipes, eh?

Jimbo   8)

Being as such I am driving 1100 miles just to get to the BWCA... I am particular about who goes with me.  While I love to go and will do the majority of the work, including cooking and cleaning etc...  I do appreciate help!  Criteria include, willingness to work and pull their load, can stand the elements (ie, cold, heat, mosquitos, black flies), knowledgeable about canoeing and camping, loves to fish, won't get home sick, and can get off of work when I can.
   Many of my friends are married with children and have to take family vacations and due to work can't take off an additional 8-10 days for a BWCA trip.  That is why I am probably going to do a solo this summer the last week in June.  Being a school administrator, I am off work from June 16, until August 1 this summer... My wife and kids have gone with me in the past, but this summer are opting for a Florida vacation while I am in Educational meetings in Orlando...  So solo it is unless I can find and break in a new partner between now and then. 
     Like Jimbo I am making arrangements to drive up a couple of days early to try and meet a friend on this board and paddle a couple of days before my entry date.

Bruce

wait, arkansasman, you get off from june 15 - august 1 are you 10 mo contract? we work 12 mo in wi as administrators....hmmm, need to check out a different state...lol

As for Chemistry 101....If they're whining about the portages, over coffee and maps at the kitchen table.....RUN AWAY !!

No apology is necesary, TTC.
I don't think I have mentioned not wanting to discuss that situation, on this forum, heretofore (always have wanted to use that word  8)).

Quote:


Behest there a dictionary from whence this comes, for it is not in thine ?

Trip number two into Quetico is the one I always think of when someone new wants to make a trip with me. 
Lets see trip number two was suppost to be of just me and my father inlaw.  He loved to camp and was very good at it.  Problem was he wanted to take his Brother Inlaw and his son.  Whom had never been on a Wilderness Trip but had been camping many times. 
We met several times in the 6 months or so of trip planning.  They seemed like good guys I couldn't find anything that threw up a red flag.  So I agreed. 
It was a simple trip up the Man chain looping out Agnes. 
We had 8 full days to do the trip and they understood the route and planned lakes to be on each day. 
Day one went without a conflict.
Day two however got very heated.
We were on our way to No Man when the Brother Inlaw said.  Why are we looping I want to just say here all week then paddle out.  I ask him why, and he said it was to much work and he was done as in not going any farther.  I told him that the loop had been planned and we had all agreed to do it.  Which after a vote he was the only one not wanting to move on.
I sugested we go ahead to Other Man for the night fish some and still try to work the loop in.  He threw his pack down in the middle of the portage said NO I'm not going any farther.  After trying several times (taking the nice guy route with him), I saw it was going no where.  So I looked him in the eye any very calmly said.  Look do you think you can find your way out of here?  He said no as I was the leader.
I said BINGO, and the leader is heading this way.  If your coming fine if your not then even better.
As for the snoreing, I still have this visual of this guy sleeping in a pup tent, feet out one end and head barely in the tent on the other, I'll add it had no floor. It wouldn't have matered if I had been on the other side of the lake I would have still heard him. 
Snoring partners are very simple to take care of, if you ever look in the back pouch of my first aide kit you'll find my handy dandy ear plugs.  Only ever used them one other time on a trip.  But each trip I take, I make sure I packed a new set.
I did finally agree to base camping on Other Man that trip.  But I took a full day heading somewhere each day offering to them,  a welcome go but explaining it would be a difficult day and if he chose to stay and fish my feelings wouldn't be hurt at all.  I also told him if we all day trip we take all the gear just in case we decide to camp on another lake..  I think he was afraid I'd keep him moving in the direction of the loop (likely so).
Pup Tents how fitting for him!  Lucky for me it didn't rain that trip, if it had, I would have had to kept the plugs in all day as well.
qp

I am also blessed with a dependable paddling partner, my husband.  Unfortunately for me, he has sleep apnea.  He sleeps at home with a breathing machine and it is a big help for him, as well as for me, to get a good night's sleep.

In a tent in the wilderness his snoring could keep the critters awake for miles around.  While it makes me a bit uncomfortable to use the ear plugs (I would never hear a marauding bear, and would probably miss the footsteps of the moose who comes to breakfast), it is necessary.  You can't paddle and portage with no sleep!

But I cannot imagine canoe tripping with anyone else!   

Why would anyone want to go with someone who wasn't 100% bonafide?  I love to laugh, and there isn't anything funnier than watching someone do something stupid when they should: a) know better, and b) already been told not to do it that way.  You don't have to be a newbie to fall into the category of being the joke of the day.    Just wanting to save a little time or take that shortcut...didn't work out the way it was supposed to, did it?  Sometimes failure is the best teacher.  And if you can't laugh at your own mistakes, you didn't really learn your lesson.

I too am lucky enough to have one paddling partner I can count on.  Me... for now.

There was an old man in his late 70's I met in the woods a couple falls ago.  With long wavy proud gray hair, that made his way through life as a jazz man, owned a bar in the tc area.  This lucky fellow had his daughter leading the trip, into her forties herself I'd guess.

They had a bear visit there camp the night before I met them.  Lots of folks would have been camping somewhere else after their evening.  For them it was just another experience.

Chemistry 101... with the woods.

k